At a glance

  • 7 strains across 16 maintenance pens (QDAFF) which are separated from an additional 4 research pens
  • Only the 4 individual research pens are available for new research
  • 4 research pens are separated from the rest of the facility by a perimeter fence and gate
  • Pens measure 2.5m × 4m
  • Mesh floors, individual moats and individual animal squeeze gates
  • 2 clean holding yards
  • Resources for incubation and storage for equipment and feed

The containment area of QASP houses a tick research facility which is comprised of 7 strains across 16 maintenance pens which are separated from an additional 4 research pens. The tick research facility is separated from the rest of the facility by a perimeter fence and gate to allow an extra tier of security. Each pen is 2.5m × 4m with mesh floors, individual moats and individual animal squeeze gates.

There is a separate entry and exit for the research pens and strain maintenance pens to avoid any cross contamination. There are two clean holding yards to allow for quarantine and habituation. The tick facility also includes resources for incubation and storage for equipment and feed. As with the rest of QASP, raceways are designed to minimise the stress associated with handling of animals.

Cattle inside the tick research facility